I grew up reading comics in bed on a Saturday morning. My British pal Richard unloaded a huge box of comics on me when I was in second grade and I spent the next couple of years happily reading and re-reading them once I had finally gotten to the bottom of the box. In early high school I tried my hand at collecting and started reading a lot of Spiderman, Capt. America and a few other Marvel books - not much of a fan of DC back then and to this day I can't see the fascination with Superman.
In high school my friend Rick and his brother Larry were into the X-Men which was a bit of a turning point for me. The super heros in these books had actual lives and real problems to go with those lives. Once again friends lent me a big box of comics to go through.
Fast forward a half decade or so to when I landed the Batman Apple II porting gig in the late 80's for Data East (via Quicksilver Software). I started reading graphic novels at that point, starting with the amazing Dark Knight which got me back into the shops where I found The Watchmen by the mighty Alan Moore. If you've only seen the movie then you should do yourself a favour and pick up the original novel. Hot damn.
I still occassionally pick up a book and I find myself checking in online with Girls With Slingshots on most mornings to start my programming day. So, wherever you may be, thanks Richard for that big box of comics and the start of my lifelong fascination with the culture of the imagination.
What follows are links to some really great, free, serialized online graphic books. I salute my fellow self-funded indies and hope that some of our web traffic can help their little corners (or hopefully not so little!) of the triple dub flourish.
The Continentals - Rated G
1889. In the wake of a series of brutal murders that shocks the city of Mansfordshire, England, Continental Operatives Jeffrey Tiffen Smythe and his partner the adventuress Lady Fiona Fiziwigg uncover a tangled web of mystery, adventure--And murder!!!
Legend of Bill - Rated PG
Legend of Bill is about wannabe barbarian Bill and his best pal Frank the blue dragon, who, unsatisfied with their mundane lives as file clerk interns in the local castle accounting department, decide to set off for adventure in the free-as-a-bird life of a roaming barbarian and his dragon... and man are THEY in for a big wake-up call!!! Along the way, they meet Princess Gina, a tough as nails warrior princess on a mission, the Dark Queen, who has a thing for Bill, and a gob more oddball characters on their shameless quest for adventure!
Amya - Rated G
Amya is a beautifully rendered new graphic novel set in an exotic fantastical setting.
Surviving Retail - Rated G
Take one part The Office, add in every frustration you've ever had working or shopping in retail, and mix that with a graphical style reminiscent of Family Circus and you have the offbeat and very fun Surviving Retail. Show it to a friend who is being Nickel and Dimed today!
Jet Packs and Time Machines - Rated PG
Jet Packs and Time Machines is Calvin and Hobbes with cyber kids who philosophize on the big questions, stuff like whether it's better to be a human vegetable or a flesh eating zombie so that you might go out with a shotgun blast. You know, the basic human condition stuff that we all ponder.
Memento Mori - Rated Mature
A politically motivated zombie infestation story set in Montreal. If you like the Sin City books by Frank Miller then Memento Mori is worth taking a look at. A well written, stylish and gritty book, click the image above to read Memento Mori now!
Artiste Gullible - Rated G
Artist Gullibe is pure, quirky gold. Every entry is a single pencil sketch image accompanied by text. Eccentric and very well executed, there are only a few entries here but each one is excellent. Click the image above to start enjoying Artist Gullible now!
Wayfarer's Moon - Rated G
Very well rendered swords and sorcery graphic novel, recommended.
Girls With Slingshots - Rated PG
Pure digital popcorn - don't click this link if you have somewhere else to be in the next two hours.
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Rated PG
Think FarSide mature. Very funny.
Least I Could Do - Rated PG
Good fun in the vein of Two and a Half Men - entertaining, male oriented humor that might offend some of the fairer sex. Think Bloom County with no filters... Buyer beware.
Awesome Storm Justice 41 - Rated PG
Featuring a couple of the greatest characters to grace an online comics webpage in the evil Dennis Dennis the 3rd and Duwayne. ASJ can be a bit uneven but, at it's best, is the best. And since you aren't paying a dime for the beast you should click the link and give it a read for yourself.
Evil Inc. - Rated PG
The first episodes are in black and white but it's best to start at the beginning with this one. Like Awesome Storm Justice, Evil Inc. is focused on the adult lives of super heroes and villains and the comedy that ensues. Dennis III from ASJ is still my favorite character but Evil Inc. has a lot to recommend it and is a lot more consistent. Try 'em both and decide for yourself.
Silent Scream - Rated Mature
More gritty, hard edged excellence from Richard Serrao.
Day by Day - Rated G
Friends meets The Office. Distinctive graphical style and consistantly good writing.
Over - Rated PG
An indie. comic book creator gets dumped by his girl friend and we watch on as he tries to get his life back under control. Lots of nods to the life of somebody in the indie. entertainment business.
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